A WOOTTON Bassett school is the first in the country to receive a top award for the careers services it provides to pupils.

Royal Wootton Bassett Academy won the Gold Award for the Careers Education and Guidance Provision to reward its commitment to quality over the past seven years.

The school’s careers leader Kerry Hall said: “According to Career Mark director John Ambrose, we are the first school nationally to receive the award, which is really amazing.

“Royal Wootton Bassett Academy will continue to work with local and national businesses within the curriculum and in the workplace to ensure that its students are receiving the most relevant advice and guidance, and gaining a broad understanding of the transferable skills required in the modern economy.”

With this honour in the bag, the academy now meets the full Gatsby Benchmark criteria for the Quality in Careers Standard by Career Mark.